Are we there yet? Every time that we get close to the end of a passage time seems to slow down. Yesterday, it seemed like we were almost there. Today, it feels like we have a long way to go. I just chalk it up to being a little bit more sleep deprived each day. In reality, we are almost there. With just over 120 miles until we enter the river at Bundaberg, we will get there sometime tonight, or early tomorrow morning if the wind gets softer.

It looks likely that we will have a night time arrival. In most unfamiliar ports in the South Pacific this would be a no-no. But, here, back in a first-world country with accurate charts and navigation marks that are where they are supposed to be and actually work, we won't wait for dawn to head in.

We had a little bit of freighter excitement this morning just after sun up. As we approached the shipping lanes off of the coast, four AIS targets popped up on the screen. They couldn't have been better choreographed. Two ships were heading North, two were heading South, and we were heading west, perpendicular towards them. The point where they were to met was directly on our route! Once again, I wonder how these coincidences always arise? If we turned South we could avoid two ships, but had greater problems with the other two. The same situation presented itself if we turned North. In the end, heading North was our choice, ducking the sterns of the two South bound ships by about half a mile. That was it, no other ships at all so far.

In 2005 we were lucky enough to be able to take a one year sabbatical where we sailed from Victoria BC to Mexico and Hawaii in our Catalina 42. We had a fantastic time! As soon as we returned home, we started dreaming about our next trip. [...]

In 2013, after switching to a catamaran, we headed off again for another sail to the Southern latitudes. Maybe we'll even go further and longer this time? Who really knows?

Isla Isabella is an island about 20 miles offshore Mexico, between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. it is a nesting ground for a number of sea birds and has been the subject of several documentaries. The birds and lizards on the island have no fear of humans.

"Speakeasy" is a 2007 Manta 42 MKIV Catamaran. We purchased her in 2013 from the original owners. Manta's come fairly well equipped from the factory for offshore cruising. We will be adding the rest of the necessary equipment.